MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF YARNTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 14th OCTOBER2020 at 6.30pm VIA ZOOM

Present: David Brown (DB), Mick Hall (MH) {Vice-Chairman}, Jackie Hoyle (JH), Anna Isles (AI), Keith Johnston (KJ), Fiona Mawson (FM), Ian Middleton (IM), David Thompson (DT), Graham Thompson (GT) {Chairman}, Lynne Whitley (Parish Clerk), Maurice Billington {item 14 to 16} (MB) (OCC Councillor), Nigel Simpson {until item 10b} (NS) {Gosford Parish councillor). Also Fiona Newton (Caseworker for MP Layla Moran)

1) Apologies: Robin Hearn (RH)

2) Declaration of Interests: The Register of Interests was tabled and members were asked to declare any personal interests and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the agenda items under discussion at this meeting. KJ declared an interest in planning application 20/02507/F as a friend of the applicant.

3) Minutes: The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 9th September having been previously circulated were accepted as a true record, proposed MH, seconded KJ.

4) Matters Arising: To be included in relevant agenda items.

5) Public Participation and Questions: None

6) Report of District Councillors: No report received.

7) Report of County Councillor: MB is trying to find out who has final decision about closing Sandy Lane to vehicles. MB met a resident in Rutten Lane about the ditch outsider her house.

8) Police Liaison: Antisocial behaviour - There has been a spate of ASB incidents recently located primarily around the Village Hall, Scouts Hut, William Fletcher School and Rutten Lane Park.. Witnesses have described the offenders as youngsters, and it is likely that some individuals are multiple offenders. Incidents include setting small fires, climbing over rooves, banging on doors in an aggressive manor, ripping up signage and vandalism in the Orchard. These have been reported to Kidlington TVP who have said they will try and do some patrols. Anyone witnessing threatening ASB should contact Police on 101 at the time. GT/JH saw the local PCSO who has spoken to two youths that had been identified. An article has been written for the November Village News. A resident concerned about speeding traffic on the A44 contacted TVP who told her speeding was a council issue, not theirs. All agreed we should try to get speed cameras on the A44 when possible. Kidlington Police Forum meeting in September 2020 was conducted on Microsoft Teams. Focus continues to be on Speeding, Fraud and ASB – but still needs further defining Community Emergency Plan Emergencyplanning@oxfordshire.gov.uk and the need for one to be in place was mentioned.

9) Schools: The Governors of William Fletcher School have written to OCC asking if it’s possible to put double yellow lines on Rutten Lane near the school.

10a) Planning Applications: 20/02507/F 1 Field Close – First floor side extension. 20/02600/F 118 Rutten Lane – Single storey extension to the rear of the property. Extend the porch and garage to the front of the property on the ground floor and extend the garage to the rear with a first-floor extension above.

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Planning Decisions: 20/01998/F Exeter Farm, 124 Cassington Road – Erection of a wooden playset in the rear garden – Granted 17.9.20 20/01304/TPO Maple House, 25 Broad Field Road – T1 (poplar tree) Crown reduction of 25% (2-3m) subject to TPO 16/99 – Granted 23.9.20 20/01562/F Ley Community – Demolition of existing buildings and the erection of multiple extensions to retained buildings, new landscaping, parking and other associated works – Granted 24.9.20 20/02030/F 32 Spencer Avenue – Replace cupressus hedging with close board fencing – Refused 8.10.20 {KJ’s comment There is some cyclic argument within the background of this application, but consequent to a planning officer’s site visit a neighbouring property is now the subject of CDC Enforcement Team}

10b) CDC Local Plan Partial Review: We have seen sight of outline plans for area PR9 with invitation to give feedback. Comments required to compile a YPC response. Consultation closure date is 26th October. KJ/GT/DT/DB meeting Merton College reps virtually on 19th October

SKANSKA included YPC in a consultation exercise related to changes along the A44 between Turnpike roundabout and Pear Tree roundabout. The plan includes introduction of a southbound bus lane alongside two traffic lanes. A report has been compiled and sent.

11) Emergency Management Plan: Nothing to report.

12) Highway Matters & Public Rights of Way: Speed Indicator Devices: Rutten Lane southbound traffic: 29268 records - 56% vehicles in excess of 30mph, 14% vehicles in excess of 35mph, 2 vehicles in excess of 55mph, one of these at approx. 9.00AM 1 vehicle in excess of 60mph. Rutten Lane northbound traffic: 28,487 records - 16% vehicles in excess of 30mph, < 2% vehicles in excess of 35mph, 1 vehicle in excess of 50mph. The figures between the two SIDs compare well suggesting both devices are working correctly. Approx 3 out of 4 vehicles travel in excess of the speed limit in Rutten Lane. Flooding: KJ & GT attended Paternoster Farm (Temple Bookbinders) on the morning of Sunday 4th October following a report of flooding. It was clear that the open and tunnelled stream (Kings Brook) had not coped with the volume of surface water during and after heavy rain. Significant silt and debris build up needs to be cleared. JH also reported internal drain issues that occur at times of heavy rain when balancing ponds in the area fill. Issues reported The area is already under investigation related to foul water drainage issues. YPC have been trying to find out who’s responsible for Kings Brook for several years. A few weeks ago Chris Grain from OCC said they were responsible but his email last week said that his Drainage Engineer had said “Anything on the verge side of that brook is OCC responsibility but the brook itself is maintained by adjacent land owner. We will be responsible for the section that is crossing the road but the section running by the side is definitely land owner responsibility even if is within our boundary.’ Chris Grain has found out from Land Records office that the brook is unregistered land which he says is unusual. He’s trying to get OCC to do the clearance work but as money is tight OCC will be doing further checks on the possibility of CDC/adjacent landowner being responsible. Carriageway maintenance and improvement work taking place in The Paddocks this week. Network Rail survey currently has 1917 online signatures and 81 on paper. Network Rail has offered to attend one of our meetings. We’re still waiting for them to tell us dates for drop-in sessions. All agreed to invite them to our November meeting.

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13) Village Hall: Work inside the entrance hall seems to be done except for painting, invoices not yet received.

14) Environmental Matters including Orchard and Airport: We’ve now found out that Mike Sparrow left the airport in February. James Dillon-Godfray has temporarily been allocated responsibility for local liaison. Ian will email him to ask about a date for a liaison meeting. Latest correspondence from Thames Water on 5th October included “we are unable to confirm if the Foul Water Sewer (FWS) has collapsed, we need to get clear camera footage to be able to confirm the condition of it and will know more once we’ve been able to survey the section of sewer. We’re confident the FWS is currently operating as it should be as we’ve not received any recent reports of flooding. We’ve got no plans to upgrade or relay the sewer in Yarnton. However, we’ll of course make the council aware of any concerns we may have about any building applications we’re aware of in the area. We can of course impose conditions, if we feel a new sewer connection will cause detriment to our network” Two trees in the orchard still need replacing. FM needs to talk to Matthew Rudge before planting wildflowers in the orchard.

15) Playing Fields: We have suffered twice more (21st and 29th September) with vandalism in Rutten Lane Park, now involving other residents’ property. The ROSPA Reports have been carried out at both parks, with remedial work required at both parks, this has been organised and will be carried out in the near future. The PFMC have managed (with a lot of effort) to gain Government Business Grants for both areas amounting to £20,000. A meeting has been held to discuss how this should be spent and quotes are to be arranged and brought back to a second meeting on the 26th October. The quotes are mostly for maintenance required and to pay some of the amounts owed. Another quote has been received for CCTV at Rutten Lane Park. YPFMC have agreed to pay some towards this. If installed it would be as a deterrent, monitoring would only be carried out by two people (parish councillors). All were happy in principal with installing this. The metal container has been removed from Rutten Lane Park.

16) Youth Provision: Nothing to report.

17) Burial Ground/St Bartholomew’s Churchyard: Nothing to report.

18) Finance and General Purpose including website: The monthly financial report for September as page 57/2020 previously circulated was proposed KJ, seconded DT, agreed by all to be a true record and will be signed by GT together with Bank statements for Barclays Community acct 27th August – 16th September (now closed), Business acct 29th August – 29th September and Unity Accounts to 30th September. A grant request from Cherwell Larder for £2900 as Yarnton’ s portion of operating costs through to September 2021 was discussed at length resulting in 5 in favour of donating £450 now, 4 abstained. Any future grant request will be discussed at the Budget meeting. Paul Mann, Emergency Planning Officer - Oxfordshire County Council, offered some electronic leaflets to be shared in local publications. He can offer topics covering Snow, Hedges and Trees, Riparian Ownership, Drainage and ditches. The defibrillator at Yarnton Home & Gardens recently showed an error (X) and out of date pads. KJ reported to South Central Ambulance (SCA) and the device was made ‘Out of Service’. Pads replaced and now back working. LW emphasized how crucial it is that all defibrillators are checked regularly and tell her a.s.a.p. if pads and/or batteries show that they will need to be changed soon. SCA ask for two names to be listed as “guardians” for each Defibrillator with contact details in case they need to contact someone. Agreed spare pads to be kept in all. LW listed as one for each defibrillators. Others agreed were: Rutten Lane/Little Marsh – MH, Park Close/Village Hall – GT, Spencer Avenue – KJ, Garden Centre – FM.

60/2020 Resident agreed she would like to pursue purchasing a memorial bench in the orchard in the Spring. LW to discuss with her, will she buy seat and give to YPC as an asset etc. In view of increased workload all agreed the Parish Clerk’s hours should be increased by 3 hours per week from 1st November 2020 (LW left meeting for this item)

19) Risk Assessment and Management: Nothing to report.

20) Recent Correspondence: Letter received from a resident in The Paddocks about a fruit tree and creeper plant behind their houses asking if they can be pruned and supported to make it safe – GT/DB will investigate.

21) Accounts: The following accounts were agreed for payment. BACS payments authorised by GT, KJ, MH (in person and email)

Our Bus Bartons (Grant) 2000.00 BACS EDF (YPF) 115.00 DD Begbroke & Yarnton Green Belt (Grant towards judicial review) 6000.00 BACS David Brown (AWBS – Mulch for orchard) 46.80 BACS Matthew Rudge (Grass cutting September) 1575.00 BACS Unity Bank (service /handling charges) 29.85 CDC (Emptying 12 dog bins – summer rate) 1317.89 BACS Function 28 Ltd (Email/website management) 30.00 BACS Ricky Smith (St Bartholomew’s grass cutting September) 260.00 BACS Kaysmet Ltd (YPF) 360.00 BACS NEST (Pension) 20.65 DD Alan Fursden (village tidying + sanitising) 260.35 BACS Lynne Whitley (Clerk’s salary) 733.50 BACS Lynne Whitley (Zoom meetings – 2 months) 28.78 BACS Lynne Whitley (Viking – printing paper/ink cartridges) 209.15 BACS John Gardner (YPF) 226.72 BACS Mick Fallows (YPF) 237.81 BACS Ady Podbery (YPF) 521.40 BACS Wel Medical (Defibrillator pads) 37.56 BACS Parker Contract Cleaning Ltd (YPF) 378.00 BACS SSE (YPF) 68.84 BACS 14457.30

The meeting ended at 8.40 pm

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 11th November @ 6.30 pm

Signed as a correct record …………………………….

Date: ……………………………………………….

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